We drank lukewarm weak coffee, ate rusks, and packed our backpack ready to trek on our camels. We cuddled under the stars and stared up at the milky way. The stars were so bright as we were in complete darkness, and it was strangely silent (except for the odd camel fart much to Julian’s delight). The sun was setting, it was definitely getting cooler, and we parked our camels and began to hike a huge sand dune to watch the sun set over the dunes. It may be a cliché, but a camel trek to your desert campsite will probably rank among your top experiences in Morocco. Riding over the uneven dunes can be a little uncomfortable, but the views will take your mind off it.
After about 60 minutes of walking through the dunes, we finally spotted what looked like a collection of tents in the distance. Next, we were led to a bright yellow table, laden with tagines and traditional sweet snacks. While some tried their hands at drumming, others explored the serenity of the sandy surrounding area.
Table of Contents
Spend where necessary
Having grown up in wintry England, the mystical expanse of the desert was something that had always seemed out of reach to me. It was not until 2018, during my time studying in Spain, that these worlds collided, when the international student network advertised a four-day trip around Morocco. I grabbed my friends and we signed up on the spot for camping in the Sahara. Find out beforehand where you be will staying, the hotels and the Berber tent camp. In my case I was surprised and excited by how amazing our camo site was, however that isn’t always the case. I have also seen some very basic camp sites without showers etc.
Hannah & Adam are travel writers & photographers who have called the road home since 2013. Their passion for adventurous travel has brought them to 60 countries and counting. They blog about their adventures on their travel blog GettingStamped.com. The ride out of the desert was even more colorful than the night before. There are many companies offering to take you camping in the Sahran Desert.
Finding A Tour Company In Morocco To Plan Your Camping Trip To The Sahara Desert
If you get a chance to reply, I was wondering if this was for one night? Most of the info I’ve seen has been for a couple nights (I think to see bigger dunes?). Because we didn’t go through one of the larger Marrakech tours we were the only two people on our camel trek into the desert. But then it turned out there actually is a bus from Fes straight to Merzouga, phew! So instead of booking a full desert tour we headed to Merzouga on our own and then sorted an independent desert trek from there.
I always pack wipes when we travel, I was glad to be able to clean the kid’s hands as they were touching all sorts of things. Don’t pack your favorite pair as they will get very sandy. The drive continues to Erg Chebbi Dunes passing by Aoufous and Erfoud where you may want to visit a local fossil craft workshop.
What other countries did we visit on this trip?
Because it was already dark by the time we got to Erfoud, and the kids were napping, we did not stop to see the fossils. The itinerary below is exactly what was provided by Iddir at Marvelous Morocco Tours. I wanted to change the wording, but I decided to keep it the same so that you know exactly what the tour was compromised off. This will give you a general idea and help you when booking your own tour. Do note that you can always remove or add things to suit your needs. There are many variations of tours offered, group tours and private tours.
Make sure you ask the tour company to explain exactly what type of tent you will be sleeping in. This gives the tour company an idea of what you want and makes the process much faster. Within 1-2 days I had heard back from at least 10 of the tour companies I emailed with sample itineraries, very similar and prices. Ultimately, I made my final choice based on price because all the tour companies I emailed had at least 5 stars.
Four Unmissable Places To Visit Outside Havana
Some people emerge again when the moon goes down to watch the stars. When booking accommodation,TripAdvisoris the way to go because you can read feedbacks and see photos from other travelers to get a feel of where you will be staying. Other great sites to book hotels are HotelsCombined, Booking.com and Hotels.com. Don’t forget to check HomeAway and VRBO for house and villa rentals too. Perfect for when you travel with a large family, and also to save money when hotels are expensive.
The moon had been really bright at night, so it was also nice to see the sky after the moon had set as the stars were incredible. And of course we took the time to stop for a bit to watch the sunrise over the dunes. It seems like pretty much every hotel in Merzouga offers their own camel treks into the desert and overnight stays at their own private desert camps.
A 4×4 Ride Over the Dunes
We flew into Fez and spent one night at Riad Hala which is located in the Fez Medina before heading out on our tour. The Sahara Desert in total amounts to 31% of Africa and is the largest hot desert, and the third largest desert in the world. The other two deserts by definition of receiving less than 10 inches of precipitation per year are Antarctica and the Arctic. In Morocco the Sahara Desert is located in Merzouga, and it is also referred to as the Ergg Chebi Dunes.
If you’re smart or trained for survival emergency solutions, you MAY handle that situation. However, the lowest temperature of the Sahara desert is about -6 Celsius Degrees. The heat of the Sahara declines dramatically at night because of the lack of humidity. These facts below won’t be too harsh to prevent you from camping on the Sahara desert. After moving to a relatively dry part of the tent I finally fell fast asleep only to dream about what other Moroccan adventures lay ahead. As we parked at a standstill for quite some time one van decided to plow through.
Should You Go Camping In The Sahara Desert With Kids?
I keep it real and share stories of raising teenage boys, family life after a cancer diagnosis, and family travels around the world! Each story is shared with my dry, and sometimes naughty British sense of humor. I’m a travel and health writer, digital and brand consultant, breast cancer survivor, and supermom to two active boys!
But perhaps you might choose to stay longer if you checked into a luxury camp. After a frigid night in a barely warm tent, I felt very happy to leave the next day. A few minutes into our ride, our convoy stopped to allow us to enjoy a gorgeous sunset in the desert. The camel trek into the desert usually begins in the evening.
What To Pack When Going Camping In The Sahara Desert With Kids
Darkness had set in by the time our camels lunged down on their front legs to dismount. We set off from camp in darkness the next morning at 6amThe next morning we were woken at 5.30am. We were warned it would be a brutally cold morning, but it would be worth it.
Why Put Plastic Bags On Car Mirrors When Traveling…
Our camp tent had electricity so we used that opportunity to recharge our electronics – however not all camp sites offer that. It will get hot, make sure to take a bottle of water for the camel ride. There is a place where you can put your water bottle so you don’t have to hold it. We booked a private 3 day / 2 night tour with Iddir at Marvelous Morocco Tours.
English 
Romanian